Massachusetts Bay Colony Freeman
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Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Freemen to take the Oath: 1630
Submitted by Janice Farnsworth *
Applied for Freeman Status, October 19th, 1630 What follows is the entire record of the Court of
the session of October 19, 1630. The men that applied for freemen status were mostly arrived in
1630 with the Winthrop fleet and the Mary & John.
However, the earlier arrivals are also represented here, and this list contains many of the surviving
settlers from the the Abigail and the Higginson fleet, as well as a few who came before 1628.
All names were inscribed by the Court clerk, and give an indication of the pronunciation, if not
the oath-taker's prefered spelling of his name. The spelling of surnames and most prenames is given
here as originally written down, but we have replaced abbreviated prenames by the common full
spelling. Where prenames were omitted, they are inserted here in italics. The order of the names
as written down originally can be seen here. There is no apparent indication of their social status
in the order of the names, but some of the earliest settlers appear first, and study has revealed
groupings according to the MBC township of origin.
At General Court, holden at Boston the 19th of October, 1630 Present, The Governor (John Winthrop)
The deputy Governor (Thomas Dudley) Sir Richard Saltonstall Mr. (Roger) Ludlowe Capt. (John) Endicott
Mr. (Increase) Nowell Mr. (William) Pinchon Mr. (Simon) Bradstreete
For establishing the government, it was propounded if it were not the best course that the Freemen
should have the power of choosing Assistants when there are to be chosen, and the Assistants from
among themselves to choose a Governor and a Deputy Governor, who with the Assistants should have the
power of making laws and choosing officers to execute the same. This was fully assented unto by the
general vote of the people and erection of hands.
Ralfe Sprage is chosen constable of Charlton, John Johnson of Rocksbury,and John Page for Waterton,
for the space of one whole year, and after till new be chosen.
It is ordered that the sawyers shall not take above 12d a score for sawing oak boards, and 10d a
score for pine boards if they have their wood felled and scored for them.
Walter Palmer made his personal appearance this day, and stands bound, he and his sureties, till
the next Court.
The names of such as desire to be made Freeman
Mr. Samuell Mavracke
Mr. Edward Johnson
Mr. Edward Gibbins
Mr. William Jeffries
Mr. John Burslin
Mr. Samuel Sharpe
Mr. Thomas Graves
Mr. Roger Conant
John Woodbury
Peter Palfrey
Mr. Nathaniel Turner
Mr. Samuel Freeman
Eprahim Childe
Mr. William Clerke
Mr. Abraham Palmer
John Page Nicholas
Upsall Stephen
Terree Henry Smyth
Roger Williams (Roger Williams of Dorchester, not the Minister and later founder of Rhode Island.)
John Woolridge
Thomas Lumberd
Bigatt Egglestone
John Grinoway
Christopher Gibson
John Benham
Thomas Williams alias Harris Richard Garrett
John Howman
John Crabb
Capt. Walter Norton
Mr. Alexander Wignall
Mr. William Jennison
Mr. Thomas Southcoate
Mr. Richard Southcoate
James Pemberton
Mr. John Dillingham
John Johnson
Mr. Robert Coles
Jehu Burr
Thomas Rawlins
Richard Bugby
Richards Hutchins
Ralfe Mushell
Thomas Lambe
William Throdingham
William Chase
(Richard) Foxewell
Mr. Charles Gott
Henry Harwood
Mr. George Phillips
Mr. John Wilson
Mr. John Mavracke
Mr. Robert Feake
Mr. William Pelham
Mr. Benjamin Brand
Mr. William Blackstone
Mr. Edmond Lockwood
Mr. Richard Browne
John Strickland
Ralfe Sprage
Mr. George Ludlowe
James Penn
Henry Woolcott
Thomas Stoughton
William Phelpes
George Dyar
John Hoskins
Thomas Ford
Mr. John Warham
Mr. Samuell Skelton
Mr. William Colbron
Mr. William Aspinwall
Edward Converse
Mr. Richard Palgrave
John Taylour
Richard Church
Richard Silvester
William Balstone
Robert Abell
Mr. Giles Sexton
Robert Seely
John Mills
John Cranwell
Mr. Ralfe Glover
William Hulbird
Edmond James
John Pillips
Nathaniell Bowman
John Doggett
Laurence Leach
Charles Chadwicke
William Drakenbury
John Drake
John Balshe
Mr. Samuell Coole
Mr. William Traske
William Gallard
William Rockewell
Henry Herricke
Samuel Hosier
Richard Mylett
Mr. Abraham Pratt
William James
William Allen
Samuel Archer
Thus ends the record of the Court of October, 1630 Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
See also:
The Winthrop Fleet of 1630
_http://www.usigs.org/library/books/ma/WinthropFleet/index.html